Stephen Bradbury's remarkable and unlikely victory at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics was achieved after a spectacular final-lap spill took out his four rivals. Bradbury threw his arms up in disbelief and smiled as he crossed the finish line.
The four-time Olympian hails from sun-drenched Brisbane, and followed his father into the sport. He was a member of the 5000m relay team that won Bronze in Lillehammer – Australia's first Olympic medal. Steven helped finance his skating career through his partnership with Revolutionary Boot Company – manufacturers of speed skating boots. Among his clients is Apollo Anton Ohno, ironically the favourite for the race Bradbury won.
His gold medal win was not entirely as fortuitous as many would believe. Bradbury knew his limitations and also the unpredictable nature of short track racing. Half the battle is staying on your blades, and Bradbury did just that, right when it really counted. Dubbed "the luckiest gold medalist", Bradbury won fans the world over for the honesty and humility he showed after the win. He saw his victory as reward not for one race, but for a decade of hard slog that has included more than his share of misfortune.
In Norway, 1994, a race accident led to him being impaled on a skate and creating a cut so extensive he lost 4 litres of blood and required 111 stitches. He was extremely lucky to survive. A training mishap in 2000 broke his neck and forced him to spend six weeks in a halo brace. Steven Bradbury again fought his way back, and two years later that neck was in the headlines again – only this time it was supporting an Olympic Gold Medal.
In addition to his motivational and inspirational ability as a corporate speaker, Steven Bradbury also brings sound business principles learnt through running his own company; RBC (Revolutionary Boot Company) which makes specialised skates and cycling shoes.
After Steven’s frustration with the sparse skates market grew, he decided to begin his own skate company along with friend Clint Jensen. Five years on, at the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, RBC sponsored skaters won 3 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals. Indeed the pre-race favourite for Steven’s own race was American Apolo Anton Ohno, another RBC client.
Just as in sport, Steven believes there are two factors to his success. First, you need the determination and resilience to put in the hard work required and ensure your preparation is complete. Second, you have to take a risk. At RBC, and in Steven’s speed skating career, he took many chances. Some worked, some didn’t. However, he stuck at them and today he has an Olympic gold medal and RBC export custom speed skates and cycling shoes to 19 countries around the world.
Since his retirement from speed skating, Steven Bradbury has built a strong media profile through his appearances on television and radio and in the corporate sector, as a renowned guest speaker and Master of Ceremonies. He is to take on a far more regular television role in 2010, where he has recently been contracted by Channel 9 and Foxtel as a presenter for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.
For more information please contact Saxton on +61 3 9811 3500 or email us at speakers@saxton.com.au
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Speaker Topics Include
Last Man Standing Adversity Fuels the Pursuit Believing in the Preparation Defining Success and Valuing the Process Goal Setting - Being Your Best Overcoming Adversity Sport Strategies For Business Success Universal Lessons of Sport – Striving Towards Excellence Values and Principles – Sustaining a Culture of Success
Last Man Standing